China has added Indonesia to its list of countries whose citizens can enter China without a visa for up to 10 days if they are just passing through (transiting) to another country. With this, a total of 55 countries can now use this visa-free transit program.
People from countries like the USA, UK, Japan, France, Australia, and the UAE already benefit from this visa-free facility. They can stay in China for 72 or 144 hours at 31 ports in 23 cities.
Starting June 12, 2025, Indonesian citizens will be allowed to enter through 60 ports in 24 regions of China without a visa, as long as they are traveling to a third country.
According to China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA), this decision is aimed at strengthening ties with ASEAN countries (a group of Southeast Asian nations) and boosting regional cooperation.
However, India is still not included in this list. Many Indian travellers are disappointed and continue to wait for similar visa-free access to China.
An expert, Ge Hongliang from Guangxi Minzu University, said that China is working to deepen its connections with ASEAN countries and that this visa policy is part of a bigger regional strategy.
Read more: Visa Assessment Must Be Merit-Based: Why Indian Students Matter to the US
The NIA also said it will keep making immigration easier for foreigners who want to visit, study, work, or live in China. The goal is to promote international exchanges and show that China is opening up to the world.
Why is India Excluded?
India and China have a tense relationship, mainly because of border issues, especially around the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas.
China is also not comfortable with India’s growing friendships with countries like the US, Japan, and Australia.
Meanwhile, India is concerned about the strong ties between China and Pakistan. China supports Pakistan with money, weapons, and even builds roads and infrastructure as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)—which passes through land that India considers its own (in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).
Due to these political and security concerns, India has not been included in China’s visa-free transit list.
